Chapter 18
Haden
Ifell to my knees, pulling Della’s limp body to me and crying as I rubbed my hands across her face, silently begging her to open her pretty eyes.
“Della, look at me!” She was cold. Her bronze skin had paled. “Storm, please just come back,” I begged as tears streamed down my face. “I love you; do not leave me.”
“She’s not here.” Thea sobbed into Cassius’ chest.
“I didn’t think she would do this,” Mikel spoke with confusion. “I didn’t even know it was possible.”
I didn’t say anything as I stared at Della’s pretty face. My hand brushed across her skin and pushed the hair from her eyes. My gaze stayed on her chest; she wasn’t breathing. I waited for her eyes to flutter open. The more time that passed, the more desperate I became.
“Please wake up.” I cried into her chest. “You were right. I would have never let you do this. You lied! You said it wasn’t dangerous. Why would you choose to leave me?”
I kissed her lips softly, like it would make her wake up. When her eyes still didn’t open, I buried my face in her chest and cried. I began begging for the stars, the heavens, the moon, and even Hell to give her back. I would take her place if they let her come back.
My chest ached so painfully that I thought I might be dying of a broken heart. My bond swelled in grief and demanded I find her, the golden thread so strained that it felt like it would snap, but I would never allow such a thing. I gripped it in my hand and made sure it didn’t go anywhere. She would come back. Any moment now she would open her eyes and tell me she was sorry for doing something so reckless.
“Haden.” Remy’s voice didn’t comfort me. She knelt next to me and pulled me to her in a tight hug as I clung onto her and cried.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what she was doing,” Remy cried.
Mikel cried behind me too. When I looked back at Della, her body was gone.
“No.” I panicked. “No!” I glanced around frantically, but she had vanished. “Where is she?” I stood and began looking for her.
“She’s gone,” Mikel whispered.
I turned to Mikel, charging him. I tackled him to the ground, punching the shit out of him.
“You motherfucker! You told her to do this, didn’t you?” I yelled as I took out my anger and guilt on him. He was able to break away for a moment, though, and punched me back, making me fall off him. Mikel stood up but didn’t attack me. He just stood over me, his nose bleeding.
“I didn’t do this. I didn’t know that this was possible, Haden. But some gods can’t die, so she will be back.”
They can die. Why did all of the gods think they couldn’t die?
I glared at the stars and hated them for letting her do this. My wife was dead. I cursed them and flipped them off with both hands.
“I will find a way up there and break you all apart limb by godsdamn limb. Then I’ll burn you alive as you bleed out!” I started pacing, looking up at the stars. My mind was dancing away with my grief, and I was fucking losing my shit. Those fucks will wish they never crossed my path. I would fucking destroy everything they ever loved with a smile on my face.
Suddenly, a man’s voice spoke up, one that I didn’t recognize. “I’m looking for Ardella’s mate.”
I turned quickly and could only stare at the man in front of me. He was clearly a god—his divine power pulsed from him. His red hair appeared like it was glowing. His intense stare softened into something almost sad.
“Ezra?” Mikel stepped forward angrily. “Did you tell her to do this?”
My wrath came forth immediately, and Ezra paled at whatever he saw on my face. He lifted his hands up quickly when I stepped toward him.
“I didn’t tell her to do this; the stars did!” I stopped and watched him confused. “I just helped her by letting Remiah’s soul come back.”
“Who are you?” I asked.
“Ezra, God of Souls.” He stood tall. “I am a friend of your mate, and you should probably come with me. She is at my home.”
Jealousy reared its ugly head. “Why the fuck is she there?”
“I have no idea, but I made sure my slaves are taking care of her.”
